Electric-accumulator plate.



G. 0. DAVIES. ELECTRIC ACGUMULATOR PLATE. APPLICATION FILED IBB.2, 1914.

1,098,231 Patented May 26, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

GRIFFITH OWEN DAvIEs, or neeaow, alterano. f,

ELECTRIC-ACCUMULATOR PLATE'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten tray ee, 191e.

Application filed February 2, 1914. Serial No. 816,072.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GRIFFITH OWEN Dnvrns, residing at 42 MarlboroughHill, Harrow, Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric-Accumulator Plates, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to plates for electric accumulators or storagebatteries of the Flaute type and particularly to those in which thincorrugated plates of lead reinforced at their edges are employed.Hitlierto, owing to the flexibility of the thin corrugated metal, it hasbeen customary to make up the plate from a number of separate panels orsmall sections and to reinforce the edges by strips of U shape in crosssection and consequently burning has been resorted to in order toconnect the parts together. p

The object of the present invention is to enable a plate of thincorrugated metal to be produced of adequate size and rigidity withoutnecessitating burning as it is found that burnt parts rapidlydeteriorate when the plate is in use.

With this object in view the invention residesin the use of reinforcingslats of light material such as wood, adapted to engage with or t theside edges of the plate and spaced at top and bottom by transversestifening distance pieces of wood, Celluloid, vulcanite, xylonite, fiberor other suitable material. The side slats and transverse stift'- eningpieces, are preferably covered with a suitable covering or paint toresist the attack of the acid in the cell.

The invention and the details thereof will be more readily understoodfrom the follow-v ing description of two convenient forms illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a sideelevation of my improved plate. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. i is anenlarged cross section of a cast lead plate. Fig. 5 is a similar View ofthe same after it has been pressed. Figs. 6 and 7 are details.Y Fig. 8is a. view of a second form of plate on a reduced scale.

In carrying the invention' into eect according to the form shown inFigs. 1 to 3 the plate a, is formed without panels of thin corrugatedlead, the plaits or corrugations of which are arranged very closelytogether,

l ables the' plate to expand or and the said plaits yor corrugationsextend vertically. The lthickness of thei corrugations which areemployed is preferably about a quarter of an inch to three eighths, thatis to say the dimension b in Fig. 2 is from a. quarter of an inch tothree eighths. A suitable thickness of plate is about e to 8 oz. to thesquare foot, while the number of corrugationsv or folds is convenientlyabout twelve to the inch. rl`he edges c, Fig. 3 are flat-tened and heldbetween two slats l and e, which are conveniently of semicircularsection. The slats are interconnected or fixed by wood or like pins f,at suitable intervals. A. similar fixture is provided at each side ascan be seen in Fig. 1. Transverse rigidity is obtained by top and bottomtransverse distance pieces g and 71,. The bottom transverse Vdistancepiece g is conveniently provided with a V-shaped channel 7c in which theV-shaped ends lof the corrugations nest. The slats d, c are convenientlyfixed in the bottom` distance piece g by means of pins of wood or thelike j. The upper distance piece 7L is also channeled to engage over theupper corrugations, while the interconnected side slats '(Z e passthrough guide holes fm, in the top distance piece. This arrangementengrow longitudinally, as occurs in practice during the processofforming, without any danger of the plate becoming distorted. Theterminal is produced by forming an extended portion at the upper ledgeof the Vplate and bunching together the corrugations of this extendedportion so as to form a tongue a. Frein this tongue lead or like bars 0p extend ori-each Aside laterally and continue vertically-down the sidesof the plate at g g,

whereby an even distribution of the current density is obtained. Thetongue portion n, extends through a slot -in the top distance piece h.'A number of perforationsw are also. provided on this top distance pieceto permit of escape of gas from the cell. The distance pieces L and gare preferably of the same width as the corrugations so as to preventthe formation of a ledge on which dirt could collect and eventuallycause short circuiting. Y

'During the process of forming the plates, additional rigidity issupplied by using temporary transverse intermediate slats u 'v which maybe held in place by rubber bands w sprung over their edges where theyproject at the sides as seen in Fig. l. After the plate has been formedcompletely these teniporary slatsv are removed. Y

lVith an accumulator plate as illustrated, the reinforcing means do notcover or render inactive any material proportion of the plate and therigidity secured is sutl'icient to enable the plate to be made in onepiece without panels, while the construction of the reinforcing means issuch as to give free play for the plate to grow during the process offormation. The reinforcing means further is of an extremely light naturewhereby the plate is considerably lightened and rendered more suitablefor use in vehicles. By arranging the corrugations vertically greaterfreedom of access to all parts of the surface by the electrolyte isgiven and when the plate is used in a vehicle the jolting and vibrationof they vehicle causes the electrolyte to wash well over the entireavailable surface. By bunching the vertical corrugations together toform a tongue, the corrosion which occurs in those plates in which aterminal portion is burnt on to the plate is entirely avoided while a.better electrical connection is secured.

When the plate is being formed it may be movedv and manipulated byseizing it by means of the projecting ends m. Vlien the plate iscompletely formed the top piece L is pressed down in place whereby theplate after formation and when in a brittle state may be handled bygripping the top bar 7L.

In afsecond form of the invention a plate a is first cast in lead ofcomparatively thick material and with shallow corrugations and withthicker ribs 9 and l0. The ribs 9 are formed at the edges, and the ribs10 across the plate at various positions running transversely andvertically. The plate is then pressed between suitable dies so that thecorrugations of the plate are made thin and the ribs 9 and l0 arepressed to the form shown in Fig. 5. looden slats c and a transversebottom stiffening piece g having grooves to receive the ribs closelyengage with the ribs as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. An upper stiffeningpiece z., is adapted to slide on the side slats c and to engage with thetop rib 9 of the plate this piece /L being of similar form to thathereinbefore described with reference to Figs. l and 2, correspondingparts being similarly lettered.

The terminal fn. in the form of plate shown in Fig. 8 is integral withthe upper rib 9. By the above construction a plate can be produced ofadequate rigidity and lightness without necessitating any metal jointing or burnt parts.

It is to be understood that the plates are preferably used in thevertical position as indicated in Figs. l and S, but l may, should suchbe found more convenient, arrange the plates with the longer edgeshorizontal.

l claim.

l. An accumulator' plate comprising a single sheet of corrugated leadhaving grooved Wooden slats fitting the side edges of said plate and topand bottom grooved distance pieces fitting the top and bottom edges ofsaid plate, said top distance piece being adjustable relatively to saidside slats substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore Set forth.

2. An accumulator plate of corrugated lead having solid ribs along itsside and top and bottom edges, and other solid ribs crossing said plateboth transversely and vertically, grooved wooden slats adapted to titthe ribs at the sidev edges of the plate, grooved distance piecesadapted t-o fit the ribs at the top and bottom edges, said top distancepieces being adjustable relatively to the said slats, substantially asand for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

3. An accumulator plate of corrugated lead having solid ribs along itsside and top and bottom edges, and other solid ribs crossing said plateboth transversely and vertically, grooved wooden slats adapted to littheribs at the side edges of the plates and top and bottom grooved distancepieces adapted to lit the ribs at the top and bott-om edges, said topdistance pieces being adjustable relatively to the said slats, saidadjustable top distance piece having an aperture, and a terminalintegral with the adjacent rib and adapted to pass through said aperturesubstantially as hereinbefore set forth.

in testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

GRIFFITH OVEN DAVIES.

Witnesses VINIFRED SALES, BERTRAM CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

